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Maine gov upset by delayed federal notifications

Gov. Paul LePage said the news media and Democratic politicians sometimes get notification of federal decisions before the state does.

In his weekly radio address, LePage cites examples in which others were told first of decisions on the Electronic Benefits Transfer nutrition program and labor issues. LePage has written to President Barack Obama's administration asking it to communicate with state government before telling others of government decisions.

LePage said he's not disturbed that the press received letters, but rather that his office had not received them first. He says the federal government must observe protocol and common courtesy.

In the Democratic response, Sen. Troy Jackson of Allagash said budget cuts alone can't solve Maine's fiscal problems. He said the LePage budget adopted last year includes an unfunded $400 million tax cut that mostly benefits the wealthy.

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